Black Powder Hunting

[BeardedPelican]

I recently have gotten the itch to try my hand at black powder. I'll be going after hogs so it'll be a bit challenging but not impossible if you use a buck and ball load.

A Howdah style pistol looks like a nice alternative to a full on rifle, plus it'd add to the challenge.

Curious if anyone else on here is into it and has any tips and/or neat stories to share.

[H60DoorGunner]

No real tips, but I have an interesting story.

The first deer I shot with a black powder rifle was so stunned, he stood still while I reloaded and shot him again. I've never had that happen with a modern rifle. I shot him with a .58 cal. 1862 CS Richmond rifle.

I also used to kill hogs on Ft hood with a black powder rifle. It ain't as big a challenge as you might think, but you only get one at a time. The herd don't stand around after the first shot.

[ARodPDT117]

Got a Kansas buck with one, he came into a field behind me (I was in a tree stand) and I didn't have a way to shoot unless I moved. He ended up squaring off with a smaller buck and they started fighting. While they were going at it I climbed down and worked my way to a fence line for a nice 120 yard shot. He finished the fight and was celebrating, shaking his head and hoofing the ground (think like a bull when he's going to charge) and he turned broadside so I let loose. To this day he has one of the most beautiful hides I've gotten from an animal. He was just pure sleek, great buck and memory.

I felt good about the shot and he basically dropped right there but there is a moment of anxiety while you wait for the smoke to clear before you know if you got a solid hit or not.

[TSKnight]

Been hunting with a smoke pole 30+ years. Everything from squirrel to black bear.
The only hogs I've taken were with a Walker .44 cap n ball revolver. 40 grains of 3F behind a round ball worked well. I just limited the range to about 30yds.

Pretty much any muzzle loader.45 caliber or larger should do the job for hogs as long as you place your shots right.

The best hunting trip I've ever had was prairie dogs with a .32 cal muzzle loader. Shot all day without moving and never had a shot longer than 75yds. By the time I was reloaded, they were back up feeding.

[Shooter76]

I have a Lyman .54 Great Plains Rifle. Great gun...

Soon as I get back from deployment I'll be building a early-Virginia flint lock.

Also having a 1742 1st pattern Brown Bess built for me.

[H60DoorGunner]

I have a Lyman .54 Great Plains Rifle. Great gun...

Soon as I get back from deployment I'll be building a early-Virginia flint lock.

Also having a 1742 1st pattern Brown Bess built for me.

I've been wanting to build a Virginia flintlock for a long while now. What kit are you going with?

[Shooter76]

I've been wanting to build a Virginia flintlock for a long while now. What kit are you going with?

Tennessee Valley Muzzleloader this time... Premium Curly Maple stock, swamped barrel, Queen Anne lock, with steel furniture.

This will actually be just an 'in the white' kit. If this one goes well I'll look at doing another more difficult build, perhaps a Fusil de Chasse, or another rifle in a smaller caliber suitable for rabbit.

[Shooter76]

My advice if you are just getting into blackpowder is to get a Lyman GPR in .54. To use a something like a Howdah pistol you're going to have to get closer than you'd want to. The .54 will let you take even the largest game in North America. And a GPR has a 150+ yard effective range. Also pick up Dutch Schultz's method and take your time zeroing your rifle AND finding your sweet load. While modern rifles come down to quality ammo and the right grain, blackpowder comes down to the right size ball, powder load, patch thickness, lube... A lot of factors go into it.